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teri_b's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
At the beginning of this book the ingredients of a Hokey Pokey cocktail are offered. And even though I am not much into spirits, that the main ingredient of the cocktail is absinthe tells me that this is probably rather strong stuff.
In addition, the dedication places this book in the horror genre.
And then we enter into the unfolding story that takes place in 1929 in The Regent Hotel in Birmingham when weather conspires and travel stops and free movement is suspended for the time this snow storm/rain lasts.
We meet Nora as she books into The Regent, which is an invented hotel according to the author's note at the end of the book, and Nora comes with the mission to spy on another hotel guest.
From the beginning it there is the hint that we most likely deal with an unreliable narrator even though Nora can mimic anything and anyone she encounters to perfection, and yet, perception itself can be treacherous, when we enter into the maze that human mind can be.
From Nora's check in at the hotel the story unfolds with an opera singer involved, snowstorm, murder and strange apparitions in hotel rooms. The story turns from creepy to scary to horror to fairy talesque, then, eventually comes to a conclusion of its own.
This book definitely is a ride. It comes with a combination of psychoanalysis, fairy tales and murder mixed together with longing, ownership and a wish to dominate, that at times really makes you feel that you just downed another Hokey Pokey.
The end is not really surprising, but it holds this note of positivity, of change having taken place that might make this book just worthwhile to read and ponder for a moment or two.
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
In addition, the dedication places this book in the horror genre.
And then we enter into the unfolding story that takes place in 1929 in The Regent Hotel in Birmingham when weather conspires and travel stops and free movement is suspended for the time this snow storm/rain lasts.
We meet Nora as she books into The Regent, which is an invented hotel according to the author's note at the end of the book, and Nora comes with the mission to spy on another hotel guest.
From the beginning it there is the hint that we most likely deal with an unreliable narrator even though Nora can mimic anything and anyone she encounters to perfection, and yet, perception itself can be treacherous, when we enter into the maze that human mind can be.
From Nora's check in at the hotel the story unfolds with an opera singer involved, snowstorm, murder and strange apparitions in hotel rooms. The story turns from creepy to scary to horror to fairy talesque, then, eventually comes to a conclusion of its own.
This book definitely is a ride. It comes with a combination of psychoanalysis, fairy tales and murder mixed together with longing, ownership and a wish to dominate, that at times really makes you feel that you just downed another Hokey Pokey.
The end is not really surprising, but it holds this note of positivity, of change having taken place that might make this book just worthwhile to read and ponder for a moment or two.
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Body horror
anntharai's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This feels like a book you keep a secret because if you reccomend it to the wrong person and they read it, they might never look at you the same way.
In saying that, it was a fantastic read and the narrator of the audiobook Charlie Sanderson was genuinely fantastic.
In saying that, it was a fantastic read and the narrator of the audiobook Charlie Sanderson was genuinely fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, Animal death, Blood, Infidelity, Body horror, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Alcohol, Medical content, and Stalking
Minor: Incest and Sexual assault
cluegoes's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed this book.
This is definitely her darkest book so far. There is a scene wherea part of a person is cooked into food. This book also has heavy amounts of supernatural elements.
Additionally, a few of the chapters in the middle I personally found difficult to read.
I would not recommend going into this book expecting a typical murder mystery because that's not what the book is. Nora's really the true mystery of the book. Everything about her is gradually revealed to the reader and I really enjoyed the character study with Nora. I feel like there were a lot of layers to who Nora is, how she is perceived and how she interacts with the world. I liked how we left Nora in the end.
She made the decision that she doesn't want to be a hunter hurting people despite that's what she was raised to do.
She uses the same slow and nice writing style she uses in her previous two novels. However, I do feel like this book has a much clear sense of plot and purpose than her previous works.
I read an advanced reader's copy that a friend gave me from Netgalley, since I love this author.
This is definitely her darkest book so far. There is a scene where
Additionally, a few of the chapters in the middle I personally found difficult to read.
I would not recommend going into this book expecting a typical murder mystery because that's not what the book is. Nora's really the true mystery of the book. Everything about her is gradually revealed to the reader and I really enjoyed the character study with Nora. I feel like there were a lot of layers to who Nora is, how she is perceived and how she interacts with the world. I liked how we left Nora in the end.
She uses the same slow and nice writing style she uses in her previous two novels. However, I do feel like this book has a much clear sense of plot and purpose than her previous works.
I read an advanced reader's copy that a friend gave me from Netgalley, since I love this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Cannibalism
readwithlissanne's review against another edition
2.0
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in return for an honest review.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start with this one.
It was definitely not the book I was expecting to read when I requested this book. I expected a, closed-room, Agatha Christie-like cosy crime book. This was not that. Far from it actually and I think the book would benefit from a change in publicity.
The writing became comfortable to me (a non-native speaker) after reading for a bit, but I definitely sometimes still got lost in the lengthy descriptions of places and people. The introduction of the book felt all together too long for me, as I almost gave up reading. In the end, the way the story is set up works really well, but while reading it made for a very confusing experience.
Again, I think this book would definitely benefit from a change in description. This book will definitely appeal to a lot of readers, but it was a miss for me.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start with this one.
It was definitely not the book I was expecting to read when I requested this book. I expected a, closed-room, Agatha Christie-like cosy crime book. This was not that. Far from it actually and I think the book would benefit from a change in publicity.
The writing became comfortable to me (a non-native speaker) after reading for a bit, but I definitely sometimes still got lost in the lengthy descriptions of places and people. The introduction of the book felt all together too long for me, as I almost gave up reading. In the end, the way the story is set up works really well, but while reading it made for a very confusing experience.
Again, I think this book would definitely benefit from a change in description. This book will definitely appeal to a lot of readers, but it was a miss for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
loufa's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
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